Tunisia-RT-PCR analyzes: Eight laboratories pinned and soon sanctioned over pricing

The controversy around private laboratories is not about to stop Between falsified RT-PCR tests at extreme prices, certain laboratories have been closed down by the Ministry of Health, which promises sanctions against them.

Faycel Ben Salah, Director General of Health, revealed, during a press conference organized this Wednesday, October 14, 2020, that seventeen inspections were carried out recently in the laboratories mobilized to detect the disease of Covid-19 and revealed the existence of infringements in eight laboratories (non-compliance with the specifications, use of subcontracting, etc.).

Faycel Ben Salah announced that “these pinned laboratories will be sanctioned in accordance with the law”, he promised, noting that the control continues throughout the country, recalling that the price of the RT-PCR analysis carried out in the laboratory is fixed at 209 dinars. “For home withdrawals, the ministry is negotiating with the union the appropriate formula to include these fees,” he added.

He also recalled that 18 public sector laboratories and 33 private sector laboratories are mobilized to perform RT-PCR tests.

On October 6, the Minister of Health, Faouzi Mehdi ordered the opening of an investigation into suspicions of falsification of RT-PCR results involving certain private laboratories.

This investigation follows complaints from citizens who indicated, with supporting evidence, that they had been subjected to RT-PCR tests in private laboratories which were positive but that in parallel, these results were negative when the analyzes were carried out by the public health services.

On the other hand, the Consumer Defense Organization (ODC) denounced the “opportunism” of certain private and clinical laboratories, which carry out covid-19 RT-PCR diagnostic tests, at more than 400 dinars, at instead of the usual tariff set by the Ministry of Health at 209 dinars, therefore calling on the Ministers of Trade and Health to intervene.